Words, Sentences,

Cambridge University Press 978-1-107-68434-8 -- Skills for Effective Writing Level 1 Student's Book Series: Skills for Effective Writing Excerpt More Information

1

Words, Sentences, and Paragraphs

CONNECTING TO THE THEME

Are you outgoing or shy?

When you meet people, do you A talk about your goals and interests? B ask about them?

When you are in a group, do you A talk the most?

B talk the least?

In essays about yourself, do you A have a lot to say?

B feel uncomfortable writing about yourself?

Mostly As: outgoing. Mostly Bs: shy.

A. Skill Presentation

Letters make words. Most words use small letters.

teacher, family, good, write

Some words use capital letters and small letters together.

Professor Garcia, State University

A sentence always begins with a capital letter. A sentence also has one space between two words. Finally, a sentence usually ends with a period.

my essay is about me.

My essay is about me.

Myessayisaboutme.

My essay is about me.

My essay is about me

My essay is about me.

Sentences make paragraphs. It is important to write paragraphs correctly. A paragraph is about one idea.

In the paragraph below, the sentences My teacher liked it and Maybe I will get a good grade are about the same idea. The sentence I like shopping is not about the same idea as the other sentences. It shouldn't be used.

I wrote my essay. My teacher liked it. I like shopping. Maybe I will get a good grade.

The first line of a paragraph is indented. To indent, type about five spaces before the first word. A paragraph is not a list of sentences. At the end of a sentence, type a space. Then begin the next sentence.

I wrote my essay. My teacher liked it. Maybe I will get a good grade.

I wrote my essay. My teacher liked it. Maybe I will get a good grade.

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Cambridge University Press 978-1-107-68434-8 -- Skills for Effective Writing Level 1 Student's Book Series: Skills for Effective Writing Excerpt More Information

B. Over to You

1 Read the three paragraphs. Check () the correct paragraph.

1 Today was our first class. We met our instructor. She told us about herself. 2 Today was our first class.We met our instructor. She told us about herself. 3 Today was our first class. We met our

instructor. She told us about herself.

2 Correct the sentences and paragraphs.

1 goodessaysareinteresting

2 doctor Goodrich teaches at harvard university

3 My sister read my essay

4 I got a good grade today. The teacher liked my essay. I wrote it very carefully.

5 I want to be a doctor I am taking science and math courses I hope to get good grades.

6 My English teacher helped me a lot. She worked with me after class. She helped me apply to college.

CHECK!

1 Sentences are groups of letter and end with a the words.

. Sentences begin with a capital

. There is one

between

2

are groups of sentences about

Remember to

paragraphs.

idea.

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Cambridge University Press 978-1-107-68434-8 -- Skills for Effective Writing Level 1 Student's Book Series: Skills for Effective Writing Excerpt More Information

C. Practice

1 Read each sentence and paragraph in the chart. Decide if they are correct or

incorrect. Check () the box in the correct column.

1. Today was our first class. We met our instructor. She told us about herself.

2. That is my instructor.

3. I like this essay. I think it is very good. It is very original.

4. I planned my essay carefully. I wrote down a lot of ideas. I chose the best ideas. Then I started writing.

5. The nursing program is very good

6. malena wrote her personal essay. it took three hours. she needed more time.

7. I play tennis everySaturday.

8. I was very busy in high school I played basketball I got very good grades I also worked after school every day

CORRECT CORRECT SENTENCE PARAGRAPH

NOT CORRECT

2 Match each paragraph (A?D) with the correct description (1?4).

1 No mistakes

3 Not a paragraph

2 Mistakes with spaces

4 Mistakes with capital letters

A Iaminterestedinhistory. Iliketoreadbooksaboutimportantpeopleandeventsfromthepast. Ialsowatchhistoricalmovies. SometimesIgotolectures. IwanttolearnasmuchasIcan.

B I am interested in history. I like to read books about important people and events from the past. I also watch historical movies. Sometimes I go to lectures. I want to learn as much as I can.

C I am interested in history. I like to read books about important people and events from the past. I also watch historical movies. Sometimes I go to lectures. I want to learn as much as I can.

D I am interested in history. i like to read books about important people and events from the past. i also watch historical movies. sometimes i go to lectures. i want to learn as much as I can.

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Cambridge University Press 978-1-107-68434-8 -- Skills for Effective Writing Level 1 Student's Book Series: Skills for Effective Writing Excerpt More Information

D. Skill Quiz

Check () the correct answer for each item.

1 A sentence has a. words and spaces. b. indentations and periods. c. only capital letters.

2 A sentence has a. a period. b. a capital letter. c. a period and a capital letter.

3 A paragraph a. is a list. b. has an indentation. c. has one or two words.

4 A paragraph is a. about one idea. b. about many ideas. c. the same thing as a sentence.

5 my bedroom is very messy This sentence needs a. a period. b. a capital letter. c. a period and a capital letter.

6 Myteacherisbusy. This sentence needs a. a period. b. a capital letter. c. spaces between words.

7 I buy lots of technology. I have two cell phones. I have a laptop. I also have an iPad. My friends say I don't need anything else. This paragraph a. needs to be indented. b. is correct. c. needs spaces between sentences.

8 my favorite subject is math. i enjoy my classes. the math classes are difficult. my teacher helps me. This paragraph needs a. more ideas. b. more spaces between words. c. sentences that start with capital letters.

9 I am interested in sports and health.I am good at working with people.I hope to get a job doing both.I would like to be a physical therapist. This paragraph needs a. a list of sentences. b. more capital letters. c. one space between each sentence.

10 I amwriting anessay. The teacher gave me some examples. I have some goodideas towriteabout. Myessay willbe interesting. This paragraph needs a. all capital letters. b. spaces between words. c. all capital letters and spaces between words.

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Cambridge University Press 978-1-107-68434-8 -- Skills for Effective Writing Level 1 Student's Book Series: Skills for Effective Writing Excerpt More Information

2

Punctuation 1: The Period, the Question Mark, and the Comma

CONNECTING TO THE THEME

Are you a night owl or an early bird?

What time do you go to bed?

C T A before 12 p.mO. NNECTING TO BTHafEter 1H2EpM.mE.

What time do you get up? A before 8 a.mAr.e you organized? B after 8 a.m.

How do you feeIl ainlwtahyesmgoertntiongc?lass

A Ready for theAdeaayr!ly.

B on tBimRee. ady forCcolaffteee....

Do you make a plan of what you have to do? A always B sometimes C never

Can you always find your books, keys, and

cell phone when you need them?

A yes

B usually

C no

Mostly As: organized. Mostly Bs: sometimes organized. Mostly Cs: disorganized.

Mostly As = early bird; Mostly Bs: night owl

A. Skill Presentation

A statement is a sentence that gives information. A statement always ends with a period. My next class is at noon.

If the sentence asks for information, it is a question. Many questions use a question word. Some question words are who, what, where, when, why, how, do, and did. A question ends with a question mark.

When is your next class? There are other words that can begin questions, like are, is, was, and were. If you use one of these words at the beginning of a sentence, put a question mark at the end. There is also punctuation used in the middle of sentences, called commas. Use a comma when you write dates. The comma goes between the day and the year.

School starts on September 1, 2013. Use commas when you write lists that have three or more items. Put a comma after each item except for the last item. Remember to put a comma before the word and.

Ivan is taking math, science, and history classes.

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